Health Minister Announces Timetable For Transplant Law
Romanian Health Minister Sorana Pintea announced on Monday the formation of a task force which should draft a new Transplant Law proposal within two months, due to a fall in the number of organ donors in the country.
In a conference marking the international “Organ Donor Day”, Pintea presented statistics showing a sharp decline in Romanian donors over the last four years.
“In 2014, Romania had 138 real donors, in 2015, it had 115, in 2016, it had 123, in 2017 – 65, and until now in 2018 – 30. I say this is too little. Donor activity declined a lot, dramatically I’d say,” stated Romania’s Health Minister.
“Part of the guilt also belongs to us, the authorities, (…) we shouldn’t have stopped supporting this activity. We should have had a clear transplant law way back,” she added.
Pintea also stated that Romania is not ready to honor conditions for becoming a full-fledged member of Eurotransplant – a trans-European organization specialized in organ and patient exchanges between countries in need.
“To accede to Eurotransplant, we need to meet certain conditions. I think it is more important to respect a protocol – both us and them. To prepare our steps of acceding to that organization. At this moment, we are not ready. We are respecting medical procedures, but there are some technical and investment aspect that we must realize,” added Pintea. (jurnalul.ro)
Romania’s Total External Debt Higher By EUR2.563B
Romania’s total external debt grew by EUR2.563 billion from end-December 2017, standing at EUR96.04 billion at the end of May. Long-term debt stood at EUR67.543 billion, accounting for 70.3% of the total external debt.
Romania’s current account balance posted a deficit of EUR3.018 billion in January-May compared with a deficit of EUR2.606 billion in the same period last year, central bank data showed Monday.
The primary income balance, which covers funds from investment and employment, posted a deficit of EUR2.362 billion in the first five months compared with a deficit of EUR2.467 billion in the same period last year.
The goods and services balance recorded a deficit of EUR1.618 billion compared with a deficit of EUR850 million in the first five months last year.
The secondary income balance posted a surplus of EUR962 million in January-May, from a surplus of EUR711 million in the same period last year.
Foreign direct investment stood at EUR1.72 billion in January-May, compared with EUR1.462 billion in the same period last year.
Of total FDI, equity stakes (including estimated net reinvestment of earnings) amounted to EUR2.208 billion, while net intra-group lending stood at minus EUR488 million, the data showed. (romanialibera.ro)
Tax Authority Wants To Sell Sorin Ovidiu Vintu’s Goods
Romania’s tax regulator ANAF plans to sell through auction, on July 31, a plot of land that hosts several buildings belonging to former businessman Sorin-Ovidiu Vintu.
ANAF said it was about a second auction to sell a plot of 1,905 square meters located inside town, of which 1,543 sqm host several constructions and 362 sqm represent arable land. The plot is located in Mihailesti, Giurgiu County.
The starting price is RON193,650 and the auction will be held on July 31, in Bucharest.
Ovidiu Vintu was sentenced to ten years in jail for embezzlement of the Employees’ Association of SNP Petrom. (puterea.ro)